Lift truck



April 24, 1962 D.E.ER1CKSO1\1 Em 3,031,091

LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1957 INVENTORS. DENNIS E.ERICKSON BY DALEMV; MCKEE ATTY.

p l 1962 D. E. ERICKSON ETAL' 3,031,091

LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1957 KMQWJ W a w TILINVENTQRS. DENN'S E. ERCKSON BY DALE W. M KEE ATTY.

April 1962 D. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,031,091

LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 26, 1957 ATTY April 24, 1962 D.E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,031,091

LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 26, 1957 FIG. 5

INVENTORS! DENNIS E. ERICKSON BYDALE w. MCKEE ATTY.

April 24, 1962 D. E. ERICKSON ETAL LIFT TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledAug. 26, 1957 FIG. 6

INVENTORS. DENNIS E. ERICKSON DALE W. M KEE ATTY.

States Patent nice 3,031,091 LIFT TRUCK Dennis E. Erickson and Dale W.McKee, Battle Creek,

Mich, assignors to Clark Equipment Company, a corporation of MichiganFiled Aug. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 680,203 19 Claims. (Cl. 214-75) Thisinvention relates to vehicles and more particularly to a side loadinglift truck type vehicle.

Lift trucks which are adapted to engage loads at one side thereof havepreviously been devised and are in use. For example, Patent 2,621,811,which issued to Le Grand H. Lull on December 16, 1952, describes onebasic type of side loader which utilizes a side opening U- shaped framehaving an elevating upright and forks which is transversely movable inand out of the Pocket of the frame for engaging and disengaging loads.One of the deficiencies of this type of side loading vehicle is that thelongitudinal distance between the forks is limited by the width of thepocket, and it is therefore difficult to properly engage and stabilizelong unwieldly loads, such as pipe, on the forks preparatory to depositof such loads on the legs of the U-shaped frame.

One basic problem which exists in all types of side loading lift trucksof which we are aware is the heretofore inherent lack of equalization ofloading on the tires and Wheels thereof, the degree of unequalization ishighly variable depending on the nature of the load, the lateralposition of the upright and forks, the position and mass of thecounterweight and other factors. This has been one of the reasons forthe relatively slow growth in popularity of this type of materialshandling vehicle. The normally unbalanced load condition has been simplytolerated heretofore in trucks of the side loading type. In conjunctionwith this same problem there has been the related problem of maintainingthe platform of the truck adjacent the forks and on which a loadnormally rests during transport approximately level, regardless of theoff-center location thereof relative to the longitudinal axis of thetruck. One disadvantage of a non-self-leveling platform is apparent whenit is considered that this type of truck is particularly adapted for thehandling of such loads as long lengths of pipe and other similararticles.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention toprovide a side loading type lift truck in which the load supportingplatform is maintained approximately level irrespective of off-centerloading there of.

It is another important object of this invention to provide in a sideloading type vehicle means for maintaining the load on the various tiresapproximately equal irrespective of other factors which tend tounequalize such loads during operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a side loading typeof lift truck having maximum fork spacing for a given vehicle wheelbase,and means for synchronizing the available motions of the forks relativeto the truck proper.

It is another object of this invention to generally improve theconstruction and design of a side loading type lift truck.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in viewof the description which follows.

In carrying out our invention we provide a side loading type lift truckin which the load engaging means, such as fork tines, are located atopposite ends of the truck body and are mounted for synchronizedvertical and tilting movement in upright assemblies of known generaltype, which upright assemblies are mounted at said opposite ends fortransverse movement relative to the truck.

In order to aid in the equalization of tire loading irrespective of thetransverse position of the upright assemblies or the nature of the loadcarried thereby, we provide counterweight means automatically movabletransversely of the truck in a direction opposite to the transversemovement of the upright assemblies. This arrangement effects two primaryadvantages, viz., the minimization of truck width for a given liftingcapacity and the tendency toward equalization of the loading on thevarious tires. Both of these advantages are at least in part effected bythe aforesaid arrangement since the counterweight is always acting inopposition to the resultant counter load of the truck about thelongitudinal axis thereof. As an additional feature in aid of equalizingtire loading in maintaining the load carrying platform of the truckapproximately level, we provide a spring suspended body and chassiswherein the springs are operatively connected to each other in such amanner that any excessive weight on one of the springs automaticallytransfers such excessive loading to the other spring transverselyopposite thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective taken from a rear quarter of thevehicle of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective taken from the front quarter of thetruck shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation taken from the rear of the truck shownin the previous figures;

FIGURE 4 is a side view in elevation taken from the loading side of thetruck;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the truck;

FIGURE 6 is a partial phantom view in perspective of the rear end of thetruck showing the truck suspension means in full lines; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial phantom view in perspective of the rear end of thetruck showing one of the uprights and mountings and actuating meanstherefor in full lines.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the truck of our invention isshown generally at numeral 10; the body portion thereof generallycomprises a body and platform 12 at the one side of which is mounted ahousing 16 and an operators cab 14 having suitable controls therein, notshown, for operating the truck and loader mechanism, and a transverselyextending recess portion 17 at each of the opposite ends of the platform12 and on each of which is rigidly secured a transversely extendingI-beam member 18 which is mounted in a manner to be described. Each oftwo upright assemblies 24} includes hoisting mechanism for elevating andlowering one of a pair of fork tine members 22 and is mounted fortransverse movement in one of the I-beam members 18 in a manner to bedescribed. The upright assemblies 20 are tiltable about a longitudinalaxis by means of a pair of longitudinally spaced tilt cylinder andpiston assemblies 24, and are synchronized in tilting movement by meansof a longitudinally extending torque tube 26. An hydraulic cylinder andpiston hoist means 28 is associated with each of the upright assembliesand includes sheave means 39 mounted atop each thereof which areinterconnected by means of a torque tube 32 for synchronizing verticalmovement of the uprights and forks.

The truck frame to which the body structure 12, the cab 14 and thehousing 16 are suitably secured comprises a pair of main longitudinallyextending and transversely spaced channel members 34 and 36 which extendsubstantially the entire length of the truck, longitudinally spaced andtransversely extending I-beams 18 and a pair of intermediatelongitudinally spaced and transversely extending channel members 38,each of said transversely extending members being secured at a lowerflange thereof to the upper flanges of the longitudinal members 34 and36.

A pair of single tyred front steering wheels 40 are mounted upon a steeraxle 42 and are adapted to be turned for steering by linkage means, notshown, from the operators cab 14. Depending downwardly from the lowerflange of longitudinal frame members 34 and 36 adjacent opposite sidesof each of the Wheels 40 are a pair of brackets 44, from the lower endsof each of which pairs is a longitudinally extending leaf spring 46 towhich the steering axle 42 is connected by means of bolt and bracketmeans 48 of well known type. Also depending downwardly from the lowerflange of the rear portion of each of frame members 34 and 36 are a pairof longitudinally spaced bracket spring members and 52 from which aresuspended the opposite ends of a leaf spring 54 at each side of thetruck. Each of the springs 54 is connected in the center portion thereofby means of a bracket 56 to one of the arms of a drive axle housing 58.The axle housing 58 mounts at opposite ends thereof two pair of dualdrive wheels 6i). Truck body leveling and tire load equalizing means isshown generally at numeral 62 and will be described in detailhereinafter.

The power train of the truck comprises an internal combustion engine 64,supported at the front end thereof on steer axle 42, a fluid torqueconverter 66 drivably connected to the engine, a forward and reversegearbox 68 connected to the housing of the torque converter, anautomatic fluid transmission 70 drivably connected with gear box 68, adrive shaft 72 extending rearwardly from the transmission and connectedto a differential gear mechanism of the drive axle 58 by means of adropdown transmission gearbox 74 which includes a lowered drive shaftwhich enters the differential gear mechanism from the rear end thereofto drive the wheels 60. The entire power train is thus suspended betweenthe axles 42 and 58. Forwardly of the engine 64 and suitably connectedthereto by conduit means, not shown, is a radiator and blower assembly76 which is supported upon a downwardly depending frame member 78 at thefront end of the truck. Illumination means 80 is secured to a transverseframework 82 at the rear end of the truck and similar means 84 to thegrillwork 85, at the front end of the truck. Some of the parts of themachine which it is unnecessary to show have not been shown in theinterests of clarity of illustration.

Referring now in greater detail to the more important components of thevehicle, from the standpoint of our invention, each of the uprightassemblies 20 comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced andnon-vertically movable channel members 96 which are held in fixed spacedrelation by brace members 92 and 94. Mounted for vertical movementrelative to each pair of channel members 90 are a second pair of channelmembers 96 which are nested intermediate the channel members 90 andwhich are mounted upon a plurality of opposed pairs of rollers 98, saidrollers being movable vertically within the pockets of channel members90 for guiding members 96 relative thereto. Each pair of inner slidemembers 96 are connected together at the upper ends thereof by a.crosshead 100 to which is connected by bracket and shaft means 102 asheave 36; each sheave is pivotally connected by a bracket and pin 1% tothe upper end of a piston rod 206 of each hydraulic hoist assembly 28.Each hydraulic hoist assembly is pivotally mounted at its lower end bymeans of a pin 198 to the brace 94. Mounted for vertical movement withineach pair of inner slide members 96 is one of the fork tines 22 which issupported by two opposed pairs of vertically spaced roller means 110which are suitably connected in a wellknown manner to each fork tine bybracket means. A double chain 112 is anchored to each of the brace mem-4 bers 92 at the one ends thereof and is connected to the upper legportion of each fork tine 22.

Each pair of fixed upright members is mounted for transverse movementrelative to the vehicle on one of the transverse I-beam frame members 18as follows: A pair of bracket members 116 is mounted in straddlingrelation to each of the I-beams 18 and extends vertically thereabove. Aroller 118 is mounted between each pair of said bracket members andadjacent the one ends thereof for rolling movement on the upper surfaceof the upper flange of each I-beam, and a roller 120 is similarlymounted adjacent the opposite ends of the bracket members. A pair ofrollers 122 is mounted between each pair of bracket members below therollers 118 so as to afford support within each of the I-beams onopposite sides of the web thereof and a pair of rollers 124 is mountedsimilarly to the rollers 122 adjacent the opposite ends of the bracketmembers. These rollers are illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Extendingbetween upwardly extending portions of each pair of brackets 116 at theone ends thereof is a pivot pin 125 for pivotally mounting the cylinderend of each of the tilt cylinders 24, the piston rod ends thereof beingpivotally connected to a bracket means 128 which is secured to arotatable tubular member 130, said tubular member being connected to apair of laterally spaced brackets 132 which are secured to opposite rearflanges of the channel members 90.

Operator control means, not shown, are located in the operatorscompartment 14 and suitable connections therefrom are provided to thetilt cylinders 24 and the hoist cylinders 28 so that the lower ends ofthe cylinder assembly 28 may be pressurized to raise the fork tines 22at a 2:1 ratio relative to the various upright channel r members and toalso raise the inner slide members 96 with the fork tines relative tothe outer channel members 90. The fork tines lower by force of gravity.The tilt cylinder assemblies 24 are double-acting and when extendedrotate the uprights 20 with the tubular members 136 in a clockwisedirection (FIGURE 3) about pivot shafts 135 of a pair of pivoted bracketconnections 136, said brackets 136 being pivotally connected at the oneends thereof to the pivot shafts 135 and rigidly secured at the otherends thereof to opposite ends of the synchronizing tubular member 26. Inother words, each of the uprights 20 is mounted for pivotal movementabout a pivot shaft 135, the shafts 135 being secured to bracket means116 which support said upright assemblies in I- beam members 18 by meansof the roller sets 118, 120, 122 and 124; the roller sets provide alsofor effective rolling transverse movement of the uprights relative tothe truck. The torque tube 32 insures that vertical movement of theforks 22 and inner slides 96 of the uprights is synchronized so thatneither one of the fork tines is able to move vertically at a fasterrate than the other. Likewise, the torque tube 26, which is connectedbetween the webs of the facing outer channel members 90, synchronizestilting movement of the uprights when the cylinder assemblies 24 arepressurized in either direction.

The mechanism for actuating the upright assemblies 20 transversely ofthe vehicle is best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, wherein a rotatablehydraulic motor means 140 of known construction is securely mountedwithin the housing 16 upon bracket means, said motor means being drivenby hydraulic pump means, not shown. A sprocket 142 is mounted on themotor drive shaft and is drivably connected by means of a chain 144 to apair of longitudinally spaced and transversely extending worm screws 146and 148 which are located adjacent opposite ends of the truck and whichare suitably mounted for rotation in bushings at opposite sides of thetruck. A transversely extending worm screw 15% is located intermediatethe worm screws 146 and 148 and is mounted for rotation with worm screws146 and 148. At the left end of each worm screw, as seen in FIGURE 5, ismounted a sprocket 152; over each sprocket is trained the continuouschain 144, as shown in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that the chain 144when driven by hydraulic motor 140 effects like rotation of worm screws146 and 148 and opposite rotation of worm screw 150.

The worm screw 150 carries a meshing translatable block member 154thereon which is secured in a groove 156 of a counterweight member 158.The counterweight member 158 is mounted along its longitudinally spacedsides upon pairs of rollers 160 which register with the pocket portionsof transverse frame members 38.

Each of the worm screws 146 and 148 is associated with a meshingtranslatable block member 162 which is connected by a bracket member 164to the adjacent pair of bracket members 116.

Rotation of the hydraulic motor means 140 in a counterclockwisedirection, as seen in FIGURE 4, will, through the action of chain 144,drive the worm screws 146 and 148 in the same or counterclockwisedirection and will simultaneously drive the worm screw 150 in aclockwise direction. The result is that the block members 162 on worms146 and 148 will be driven transversely of the truck from the left handside thereof to the right hand side thereof, thereby actuating both ofthe upright assemblies 20 and both pairs of upright mounting brackets116 and parts associated therewith toward the right hand side of thetruck (FIGURE 3), while at the same time translating the block member154 and the counterweight 158 connected thereto from the right hand sideof the truck toward the left hand side thereof,

From the above it will be apparent that irrespective of the transverselocation of the upright assemblies 20 and associated parts, thecounterweight 158 will always be located at a corresponding oppositeposition in a transverse direction so that it always tends to balance orequalize the load of the truck on opposite sides thereof. The selectedmass of the counterweight is largely determined by the over-all truckconfiguration and weight distribution thereof.

Referring now to the platform leveler and load equalzer assembly showngenerally at numeral 62, it will be recalled that each of the dual rearwheels 60 are independently sprung from the truck frame by leaf springs54 and bracket means 56. Secured to the upper end of each axle bracket56 and centrally of the spring 54 is a generally triangular shaped pivotblock 170, at the upper vertex of which is pivotally mounted on a pin172 a rearwardly extending arm 174 which is connected at its opposite orrear end to a transversely extending torque tube 136. The torque tube176 is supported for rotation at its opposite ends by a pair oflaterally spaced brackets and bushings 177 which depend downwardly fromthe lower flange of the rear I-beam 18. As the load on either of thesprings 54 is increased and the spring tends to deflect, part of theload is imposed on the arm 174 adjacent the loaded spring; the arm 174transmits its load through torque tube 176 to the arm 174 on theopposite side of the truck which imposes additional force on the 7 otherspring 54, thus producing essentially equal spring loads and maintaininga substantially level platform irrespective of the manner of loaddistribution on the truck frame. For example, if a heavier load isimposed on the right hand spring 54 than on the left hand spring 54(FIG- URE 3) the right hand spring will tend to deflect downwardly to agreater degree than will the left hand spring 54. Such additionaldeflection of the right hand spring will initially actuate downwardlythe pivot block 170 a correspondingly greater amount than the left handpivot block 170, thereby tending to rotate the torque tube 176 in aclockwise direction in brackets 177. Clockwise rota tion of torque tube176 imposes a force on the left hand spring 54 which is proportional tothe initial difference in the load on the springs 54. Thus, it is seenthat irrespective of variations in location or mass of load, the loadequalizer means 62, by twisting the body and chassis in one direction orthe other about the longitudinal axis of the truck, will always tend tomaintain level the platform of the body 12 by tending to maintain equalthe vertical distance between each pin 172 and the platform of the truckbody 12 on opposite sides of the truck.

An hydraulic cylinder and piston outrigger assembly 184 is mounted atits upper end to the frame of the truck by bracket means, not shown, andextends downwardly and outwardly of the truck body, having a pivoted pad186 located at the outer end of the piston rod. Extension of the pistonrod of the assembly 184 will project the pivoted pad into contact withthe truck supporting surface (from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to theposition shown in FIGURE 1) for providing truck stabilizing meansadditional to the counterweight 158, as when the uprights 20 are locatedat the right side of the truck and the forks located beneath the loadfor engaging same.

In operation, the truck 10 is driven alongside of a load to betransported, in which position the outrigger means 184 is movedoutwardly and downwardly until the pad is bearing on the supportingsurface. The fork tines 22 are then lowered to approximately groundlevel by relieving the pressure in the lower ends of hydraulic hoists28, and the hydraulic motor means then energized to rotate the wormscrews 146 and 148 in a direction to actuate the uprights rightwardly ofthe truck with bracket means 116. During such transverse motion thetorque tube 26 maintains the uprights in longitudinal alignment; as theyprogress to the right side of the truck the forks may be tilteddownwardly with the uprights, as desired, by means of the tilt cylinderassemblies 24 in order to engage the underside of a load to betransported (see FIGURE 3). During such traversing movement of theuprights, the counterweight 158, as hereinbefore explained, will beactuated toward the extreme left hand side of the truck in order tostabilize the truck and to aid in equalizing the load on opposite sidesthereof as the hydraulic hoists 28 are energized to raise a load on thefork tines. The load is normally raised slightly above platform level bythe fork tines, while the torque tube 32 assures that the load willremain parallel to the truck supporting surface during raising movementthereof. The hydraulic motor 140 is then actuated in the oppositedirection which returns the uprights with the load to the originalretracted position, wherein the load is lowered to rest on the platformof the truck. During such return movement, of course, the counterweight158 is returned to its initial right hand position. The outrigger isthen retracted to the position shown in FIGURE 3 and the truck is readyto move. While transporting the load, the fork tines may be loweredpartially to the ground to reduce the over-all height of the truck, or,more conveniently, may be left at platform level and tilted rearwardlyby means of cylinder assemblies 24 to aid in stabilizing the load, suchas may be necessary with a load of long loose pipe or other unboundmaterial.

The above-described sequence of operation is reversed when it is desiredto discharge a load at a selected location.

As explained hereinbefore, regardless of the manner of distribution of aload upon the truck platform, the load equalizing means 62 functions toinsure that the body of the truck will remain approximately level andthat the loading on the various tires will be approximately equal.

In the interests of conciseness and clarity of illustration, all of thedetails of some of the parts have not been illustrated, and themechanism of our invention has been shown somewhat schematically. Thus,it is our intention to promote ready understanding of our invention bypersons skilled in the art.

While We have shown and described but one embodimerit of our invention,it will be readily understood by persons skilled in the artthat manyvariations in the construction and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. An industrial truck comprising a longitudinally extending frameconstruction having a first pair of transversely extending frame membersadjacent opposite ends of the frame and a second pair of transverselyextending frame members intermediate said first pair of frame members, aload lifting upright assembly operatively connected to each one of saidfirst pair of frame members for movement therealong longitudinallyoutwardly of said first frame members, load counterbalance meansoperatively connected to said second pair of frame members for movementtherealong between the first frame members, and means for actuating eachof said upright assemblies transversely of the frame construction andsaid counterbalance means transversely of the frame construction in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said uprightassemblies.

2. In an industrial truck having a longitudinally extending wheeledframe construction which includes a first pair of transversely extendingframe members adjacent opposite ends thereof, a second pair oftransversely extending frame members intermediate said first pair offrame members, wheel carrier axle means adjacent opposite ends of thetruck, means connecting said axle means to the frame construction, and apower train extending longitudinally of said truck between the axlemeans and having a portion thereof beneath said second pair oftransverse frame members, a load lifting upright assembly operativelyconnected to each one of said first pair of frame members for movementlongitudinally thereof outwardly of the respective ones of said firstframe members, load counterbalance means operatively connected to saidsecond pair of frame members for movement therealong between the firstframe members, and means for actuating said upright assemblies and saidcounterbalance means transversely of the frame construction indirections one opposite to the other.

3. An industrial truck comprising a longitudinally extending wheeledframe construction which includes a pair of transversely spaced andlongitudinally extending frame members, a first pair of transverselyextending frame members connected to said longitudinal frame membersadjacent opposite ends thereof and a second pair of transverselyextending frame members intermediate said first pair of frame membersand connected to said longitudinal frame members, said first and secondpairs of frame members extending in both directions transversely beyondsaid longitudinal frame members, a load lifting upright assemblyoperatively connected to each one of said first pair of frame membersfor movements transversely of the truck outwardly of said first framemembers, load counterbalance means connected to said second pair offrame members for movements transversely of the truck between the firstframe members, and means for simultaneously actuating said uprightassemblies and said load counterbalance means transversely of the truckand in opposite directions relative to each other.

4. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 3 wherein said uprightassemblies and said counterbalance means are movable to positionsadjacent either end of said first and second pairs of transverselyextending frame members, respectively, each of said upright assembliesincluding a vertically movable load engaging means for engaging a loadat one side of the truck.

5. In an industrial truck having a longitudinally extending wheeledframe construction which includes a pair of longitudinally extendingframe members and a plurality of transversely extending frame members inlongitudinally spaced relation connected to said longitudinal framemembers between the opposite ends thereof, a load lifting uprightassembly connected to a transverse frame member at each end of thetruck'for movement therealong transversely of the truck and outwardly ofsaid latter frame members, load counterbalance means connected to theframe construction intermediate the opposite ends of the truck fortransverse movement relative thereto between said latter frame members,and power means operatively connected to said upright assemblies and tosaid counterbalance means for simultaneously actuating same transverselyof the truck and in opposite directions relative to one another.

6. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 5 wherein said power meansincludes a plurality of interconnected motor elements which arevariously connected to said upright assemblies and said counterbalancemeans for actuating same as aforesaid.

7. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 6 wherein said motor elementscomprise transversely extending screw means for actuating said uprightassemblies and said counterbalance means transversely of the truckduring rotation of the screw means, and power means operativelyconnected to each of the screw means for rotating those screw meanswhich are connected to the upright assemblies in a direction opposite tothe direction of rotation of the screw means which is connected to thecounterbalance means.

8. In an industrial truck having a wheeled frame, a pair of uprightassemblies connected to the frame for traversing movement relativethereto, said upright assemblies being mounted in spaced relation toeach other, each of said upright assemblies comprising a pair ofchannelled upwardly extending members, brace means connected to saidchannelled members for maintaining same in fixed spaced and facingrelation, a pair of channelled upwardly extending members mountedbetween said first pair of channelled members for vertical guidedtelescoping movement relative thereto, brace means connected to saidmovable channelled members for maintaining a spaced relation thereof, aload engaging means connected to said movable channelled members forvertical guided movement relative thereto, hydraulic hoist means mountedwithin the upright assembly and extending upwardly between said movablechannelled members, the movable end of said hoist means being connectedto the upper end of the movable channelled members for elevating samerelatively to the first mentioned channelled members, wheel meansconnected to the upper end of the movable channelled members, and cablemeans fixedly anchored at one end thereof and trained over the wheelmeans for connection to the load engaging member at the opposite endthereof for elevating same relative to the movable channelled members,each of said load engaging members being movable downwardly below thelowermost portion of the various channelled members and interconnectingmeans between the wheeled means of the upright assemblies forsynchronizing upward movements thereof.

9. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 8 wherein the frameconstruction of the truck extends longitudinally and includes a pair oftransversely extending frame members adjacent the opposite ends thereof,said upright assemblies being operatively connected to opposite ones ofsaid transversely extending frame members for movement therealongtransversely of the truck.

10. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 9 wherein load supportingplatform means extends between said transverse frame members, saidupright assemblies being actuatable adjacent opposite ends of the trucktransversely thereof for engaging a load adjacent one side thereofoutwardly of the adjacent longitudinal member and generally below theadjacent end member, load lifting upright assemblies locatedlongitudinally outwardly from opposite ends of said frame constructionand operatively connected in cantilever fashion to corresponding endmembers for transverse movement relative to the truck, each of saidlatter operative connections including bracket means mounted upon one ofsaid end members for guided movement therealong and means connecting theupright assembly to said bracket means, and motor means operativelyconnected to said bracket means for each actuating each said bracketmeans and upright assemblies transversely of the truck selectively ineither direction.

12. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 11 wherein each uprightassembly is pivotable about its connection to said bracket means, andmotor means connected between each of said bracket means and uprightassemblies for tilting each upright assembly in either direction from avertical position thereof about its pivoted connection to the bracketmeans.

13. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 12 wherein a longitudinallyextending connecting member is secured to both said upright assembliesfor synchronizing tilting movements thereof.

14. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 11 wherein the said motormeans includes a pair of rotatable screw elements extending transverselyof the truck at opposite ends thereof and operatively connected torespective ones of said bracket means for actuating same with saidupright assemblies transversely of the truck during rotation of thescrew elements.

15. An industrial truck comprising a longitudinally extending wheeledframe having a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extendingframe members, an I-shaped frame member extending transversely of thetruck and connecting said longitudinal frame members adjacent oppositeends thereof, said I-shaped frame members extending outwardly beyondopposite sides of said longitudinal frame members, bracket means mountedupon each of the I-shaped frame members for movement therealong, saidbracket means including a plurality of vertically and longitudinallyspaced roller members mounted to engage opposite sides of the upperflange of each I-shaped frame member for permitting effective rollingengagement of the bracket means along the corresponding frame member, aload lifting upright assembly cantilevered longitudinally beyond each ofthe I-shaped frame members and operatively connected to each of saidbracket means for movement therewith relative to the said I-shaped framemembers.

16. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 15 wherein motor means isprovided for actuating the bracket means and connected upright assemblytransversely of the truck along the respective I-shaped frame member forengaging a load outwardly of one side of the truck.

17. An industrial truck as claimed in claim 16 plus a pair oflongitudinally spaced and transversely extending channelled membersintermediate said I-shaped frame members and connected between saidlongitudinally extending frame members, and a counterbalance meansmounted between said intermediate frame members for movement relativethereto in a direction opposite to the movement of said uprightassemblies.

18. An industrial truck comprising a generally longitudinally extendingframe construction having longitudinal members and transverse endmembers extending a substantial distance outwardly to either side ofsaid longitudinal members, wheel and axle means supporting the frameconstruction, the wheel means being located adjacent each corner of theframe construction transversely outwardly of the adjacent longitudinalmember and gen-- erally below the adjacent end member, load liftingupright assemblies located longitudinally outwardly from opposite endsof said frame construction and operatively connected in cantileverfashion to corresponding end members for transverse movement relative tothe truck, each of said latter operative connections including bracketmeans mounted upon one of said end members for guided movementtherealong and means connecting the upright assembly to said bracketmeans, motor means operatively connected to said bracket means foractuating said bracket means and upright assemblies transversely of thetruck selectively in either direction, said motor means including a pairof rotatable screw elements extending transversely of the truck atopposite ends thereof and operatively connected to respective ones ofsaid bracket means for actuating same with said upright assembliestransversely of the truck during rotation of the screw elements,transversely movable counterbalance means in the center portion of thetruck, and additional motor means for actuating the counterbalance meanssimultaneously with actuation of the upright assemblies but in adirection opposite thereto.

19. An industrial truck comprising a longitudinally extending wheeledframe having a pair of transversely spaced and longitudinally extendingframe members, an I-shaped frame member extending transversely of thetruck and connecting said longitudinal frame members adjacent oppositeends thereof, said I-shaped frame members extending outwardly beyondopposite sides of said longitudinal frame members, bracket means mountedupon each of the I-shaped frame members for movement therealong, saidbracket means including a plurality of vertically and longitudinallyspaced roller members mounted to engage opposite sides of the upperflange of each I-shaped frame member for permitting effective rollingengagement of the bracket means along the corresponding frame member, aload lifting upright assembly cantilevered longitudinally beyond each ofthe I-shaped frame members and operatively connected to each of saidbracket means for movement therewith relative to the said I-shaped framemembers, means for pivotally connecting each upright assembly to therespective bracket means, and motor means connected between each bracketmeans and the corresponding upright assembly for tilting the latter ineither direction from a vertical position about said pivoted connectionthereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,497,686 Johnson June 17, 1924 2,558,306 McIntyre June 6, 19512,621,812 Lull Dec. 16, 1952 2,701,031 Brumbaugh Feb. 1, 1955 2,720,993Lull Oct. 18, 1955 2,752,056 Lull June 26, 1956 2,785,817 PappathatosMar. 19, 1957 2,789,707 Wolf Apr. 23, 1957 2,841,404 Eitel July 1, 19582,897,985 Carlson et al Aug. 4, 1959

